By: Joanne Cogle MS, owner of CrossFit CSG, local military spouse, mom, triathlete
Good nutritional habits established early in development, combined with adequate physical activity, can reduce the risk of obesity, chronic diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle. That being said, mom-life typically means being on the go, all of the time! Dropping kids off at school, picking kids up after school, shuttling kids off to sporting events, and then buzzing home for dinner. Food on the fly is hard. Almost as hard as 5th grade math.
What kids are eating on a daily basis has some parents concerned. The school cafeteria often serves pizza, burgers, tacos and other ‘fast’ food options with limited fruits and vegetables. So, what do we do to make sure that our kids are eating a well-balanced diet? In a perfect world we would be able to make our families breakfast, pack their lunches, make healthy after school snacks and cook a well-rounded dinner. But that’s not reality in today’s fast-paced world.
The silver lining of being the kings and queens of multi-tasking is that we are able to plan ahead. Planning healthy snack options for your kids, and ones that are parent-friendly too, is as easy as planning out what is for dinner this week.
Before you go open Pinterest and try to muddle your way through some crafty snacks that are bound to leave you questioning your sanity, there are many options out there that are easy, quick and packable. Everyone has a different palate, but some fan favorites include mini RX bars, mini Larabars, apple pieces with nut butter, cheese sticks wrapped in deli meat, fruit, low sugar yogurt cups, popcorn, pretzels, and the list goes on.
It’s important to note that snacks with a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are going to keep your child satisfied longer. So, prepare a variety to ensure you don’t hear, “I’m Hungry!” any sooner than need be.
Still stuck? For more snack ideas and healthy recipes that change month-to-month you can check out www.crossfitcsg.com/recipes
